Type-setting machine



(No Model.)

0. W. DICKINSON.

TYPE SETTING MACHINE.

2 Patented Oct. 19,1897.

INVENTOR:

WITNESSES: 5 42 B y 1115 Alzomey TINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES IV. DICKINSON, OF BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE EMPIRE TYPE SETTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF WVEST VIRGINIA.

TYPE-SETTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,914, dated October 19, 1897.

Application filed May 29, 1897. Serial No. 638,679. (No model.)

To to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. DICKIN- SON, a'citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Belleville, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type- Setting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to improvements in type-settin g machines, and particularly to improvements applicable to that class of typesetting machines in which a vertical case is used, resting upon a cradle standing upon a supporting-bar and containing the type in channels from which the type is removed by means of the insertion of a type-plunger attached by alever operated by the depression of a key, which type-plunger forces the last letter in each channel of the case forward, whereupon it is allowed to drop by gravity through the grooves in the back plate of the machine into the raceway where the types are assembled and alongwhich they are driven by suitable mechanism.

The special object of the improvements is to render the action of the levers actuating the plungers more delicate and to utilize the presence of power in the machine for the purpose of facilitating the operation of the plunger-keys, and completing their action when once set in motion by the finger of the operator, and at the same time to prevent breakage of the plunger mechanism, in case the same for any reason becomes impeded.

The invention will, be best understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the mechanism attached to a plunger and key, and Fig. 2 a sectional view on the lines 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout both views.

In the drawings, A represents a portion of the upright framework of a type-setting machine of the above-described character; P,

- one of the series of type-plungers, of which there are any desired number; L, the fingerlever, of which one is provided for each plunger, and J the rod which connects the fingerlevers with the plungers. These parts are common to all type-setting machines of the general class to which the present improvements are applicable.

In the present invention, in place of the ordinary bell-crank by means of which the rod J and the plunger 1? are connected, the device shown in the drawings is substituted. By means of this the work of expelling types from the type-cases is done positively by utilizing force already existing in the machine. This device consists of an eccentric disk M, mounted loosely on a rotating shaft W, running the width of the machine, whichdisk is so arranged as to engage with and make one complete revolution with the shaft whenever a finger-lever is depressed, and to carry with it the plunger mechanism, and thereby expel the lower type from the corresponding typecase.

O is a ratchet-wheel'which is provided with suitable teeth 0 O, and is attached to, and rotates with, the shaft W in close proximity with the eccentric disk M. The eccentric disk carries on its face a pivoted pawl N, pivoted to it at N This pawl is provided with a tooth N at its upper end, of such size that it will mesh into the teeth 0 O on the ratchet-wheel 0 when the pawl is brought into engagement therewith. The lower extremity of the pawl N terminates in a hook N, which is arranged to rest against the upper end of the rod J. The pawl N is normally held out of engagement with the wheel 0 by means of this engagement of the end of the rod J with its lower extremity. The lateral movement of the pawl is limited by a pin M on the eccentric disk M at its upper extremity. When the pawl is released from engagement with the rod J, it is forced into engagement with the ratchet-wheel O by means of a spring N bearing against a second pin M on the surface of the eccentric disk or by any other similar device.

The rod J has its top slightly cut away at J as shown, and hooks at its lower end into the finger-lever L. A spring J 3 is provided, fastened to the upright framework A at one end and to an adjustable p'in J 2 on the rod J at the other end, which-serves to hold the rod in a fixed position except when the finger is depressed, and' after release of the latter to re- IOO store it to its original position. The bell-crank operating the plunger P is made of two levers S and S, both pivoted to the rod S running the length of the machine. The lever S, a short distance above its pivotal point, is bent so as to be directly in line with the lever S for the remainder of its length. The two levers S and S are held together by the spring S which hooks into the lever S at one end and at the other end is attached to the pin S on the arm of the lever S. The tension of this spring is sufficient to normally hold the two levers firmly together and thereby actuate the plunger P whenever motion is imparted to the lever S by the eccentric M, but in case the plunger meets with any obstruction, such as a thick or broken type, the spring S will yield and allow the lever S to be advanced independently of the lever S.

The lever S is bent at its upper end so as to surround the eccentric disk M, as shown, and when the eccentric disk M makes a revolution the lever S, carrying with it the lever S and the plunger P, advances a sufficient.

distance to completely expel a type, and thereupon returns to its original position.

The operation of the machine is as follows: When the finger-lever L is depressed by the operator, it frees the dog N, which is thereupon forced by the spring N into engagement with the teeth of the continuously-rotating ratchet-wheel O. Thereupon the eccentric M makes a single revolution, carrying forward the lever S, which in turn by means of the spring S carries forward the lever S and the plunger P, and a type thereupon is expelled from the'type-case. As soon as the finger-lever L is released by the operator it is returned to its original position by the spring J and as the eccentric disk completes its revolution the extremity of the pawl N again engages with the rod J and is held ofi of the ratchet-wheel O, and all movement of the plunger mechanism is thus arrested until the finger-lever L is again depressed. If the plunger P meets with any obstruction in its course, such as a type too thick for the throatpiece or other obstruction, the tension of the spring S is such that the leverS will remain stationary and the lever S will receive all the movement, thereby avoiding damage to the machine.

I have described a single set of mechanism only, but it will be obvious that the machine will require as many sets as there are type letters and characters.

In order to steady the movement of the levers S and S and keep the different sets of levers-apart, a comb T is provided, running the entire width of the machine, between the teeth of which the levers slide freely.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a type-plunger; a rotating shaft; an eccentric cam, mounted loosely on the shaft; devices set in motion by the cam for actuating the type-plunger; a ratchet-wheel keyedto saidshaft; a pawl pivoted to said eccentric cam, arranged to engage with said ratchet-wheel when released;

a finger-lever arranged to release the pawl and throw the eccentric cam'into engagement with the ratchet-wheel during a single revolution of the shaft and actuate the typeplunger.

2. The combination of a type-plunger; a rotating shaft; an eccentric cam mounted loosely thereon; a ratchet-wheel keyed to said shaft; a pawl pivoted to said eccentric cam, arranged to engage with said ratchet-wheel when released; a finger-lever, arranged to release the pawl and throw the eccentric cam into engagement with the ratchet-wheel during a single revolution of the shaft; and a lever connected with the type-plunger, actuated by the eccentric cam, whereby the typeplunger is caused to expel a type and return to its original position,'by the revolution of the cam.

rotating shaft carrying an eccentric disk; a lever connected with the type-plunger, composed of a bent portion partially encircling lateral movement therefrom, and a straight portion pivoted to the bent portion and connected with the type-plunger; and a spring connecting the two portions of sufiicient tension to hold the two portions together and not obstructed.

4. The combination of a type-plunger; a rotating shaft; an eccentric cam, mounted loosely thereon; a lever actuated by said' cam at one end, and engaging with the plunger at the other end, composed of two portions pivoted together; and a spring device connectin g said portion so that the same shall optype-plunger becomes obstructed.

5. The combination of a type-plunger; a rotating shaft; an eccentric cam mounted loosely thereon; a ratchet-wheel keyed to said arranged to engage with said ratchet-Wheel; a finger-lever arranged to release the pawl and throw the eccentric cam into engagement with the ratchet-wheel during a single revotwo portions pivoted together and held together by a spring device, so as to form a sin gle lever until such time as the type-plunger becomes obstructed, connected with the typeforward and expel a type and return to its original position by the revolution of the cam. 6. The combination of a type-plunger; a

shaft; a pawl pivoted to said eccentric disk arranged to engage with said ratchet-wheel;

movement of said pawl in one direction; a spring on said pawl for forcing the pawl into engagementwith the ratchet-wheel; asliding actuate the type-plunger when the latter is rotating shaft; an eccentric disk mounted. looselythereon; aratchet-wheelkeyedtosaid Q devices on said disk for limiting the lateral 3. The combination of a type-plunger; a

the eccentric disk and adapted to receive a erate'as a single lever until such time as the g IIO shaft; a pawl pivoted to said eccentric cam,

lution of the shaft; and a lever, composed of plunger, whereby the latter is caused to move gether and actuate the type-plunger when the latter is not obstructed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention Ihave signed my name, in pres- I 5 ence of two witnesses, this 3d day of May, 1897.

O. W. DICKINSON.

Witnesses:

WILLARD PARKER BUTLER, HORACE EARL PARKER. 

